Home Office

Asylum: LGBT People

Lord Scriven: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Bates on 3 March (HL5244), what steps they plan to take to ensure that information about people claiming asylum on grounds of their sexuality is recorded on a central database.

Lord Bates: Information on the basis of an asylum claim is not usually recorded but the Home Office has made arrangements to record this data for cases made on the basis of sexuality on our Case Information Database.We have reminded decision makers to record this information accurately for all such cases and recording compliance is reviewed as part of the second pair of eyes checks on these cases.

Asylum: Detainees

Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of asylum seekers being detained under powers in the Immigration Acts, what access they have to statutory, free and independent forms of advocacy on an individual basis, excluding legal representation.

Lord Bates: All asylum applicants are directed to a range of sources of advice and support offered by non-governmental organisations. However we consider that statutory access to free and independent forms of advocacy is best delivered through providing the asylum applicant with the opportunity to consult a legal representative at his or her own, or public expense (in accordance with provision made by the Legal Aid Agency) or otherwise. This could be a barrister, solicitor or adviser; all however must be qualified to provide advice under Section 84 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 to ensure that the advice offered is of the sufficient quality.Safeguards exist for those entering detention through the Detention Duty Advice scheme which was set up by the Legal Aid Agency to provide access to legal advice in detention centres. The scheme provides free legal advice under legal aid for people held in immigration detention, who cannot afford a fee-paying private legal adviser or who are no longer represented by a duty solicitor.

Entry Clearances: Nepal

Lord Pearson of Rannoch: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what conditions a Nepalese man must meet to obtain a three-month tourist visa to visit the United Kingdom if he is married to a woman who is a British citizen resident in the United Kingdom.

Lord Bates: All visit visa applications, regardless of nationality, are carefully considered in accordance with the Immigration Rules. Visitors must demonstrate that they are genuinely visiting the UK for a period of less than six months and intend to leave the UK at the end of their proposed visit. Applicants must satisfy our decision-makers that they have strong social and economic ties to their home country as well as adequate funds to cover the cost of their travel to and stay in the UK without taking employment or accessing public funds.

DNA

Lord Empey: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what they consider to be the evidential consequences of the ruling of the European Court of Human Rights that DNA samples can only be retained for up to a maximum of two years under certain circumstances; and whether DNA profiles provide a sufficient basis to initiate a prosecution in the absence of an actual sample.

Lord Bates: Under the new regime relating to DNA samples introduced by the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012, DNA samples must normally be destroyed once a DNA profile has been derived from them, or six months after they have been taken, whichever period is shorter. Profiles are compared with existing subject and crime scene profiles held on the DNA database. If there is a match between profiles, this could form part of the prosecution evidence in a case; however, an individual cannot be convicted on the basis of DNA evidence alone. Therefore the destruction of samples will not normally affect the initiation of a prosecution. If a person is charged with an offence and disputes that a profile used in evidence was derived from a sample taken from them, and the sample has been destroyed, the police have the power to take another sample.In the exceptional circumstance that a sample is required for disclosure as evidence under the Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996, it is not required to be destroyed until after any proceedings have been completed.The Government will consider carefully any court rulings which may have an implication for the policy outlined above.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

Parental Leave

Lord Jones of Cheltenham: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have received regarding the accuracy or otherwise of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills online tool to calculate qualification for shared parental leave.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe: A firm of solicitors has asked BIS how the on-line calculator calculates the period of continuous employment which an employee must complete to qualify for shared parental leave. The calculator is accessed through GOV.UK and is designed to help parents and prospective parents work out their entitlements. We believe that the calculator delivers the right answer for shared parental leave.   As a result of this query we are now looking at how the calculator calculates the period of continuous employment for entitlement for other forms of statutory leave and also for statutory pay. We are doing this to verify that all these calculations are correct. We will take steps to address any discrepancies we find.

Department for International Development

St Helena

Lord Jones of Cheltenham: To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they expect to announce details of air passenger services to St Helena.

Baroness Northover: The UK Government is providing support to the air service procurement process that is currently underway and run by the St Helena Government.

St Helena

Lord Jones of Cheltenham: To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they expect to announce details of freight and passenger shipping services to replace those currently provided by the Royal Mail Ship St Helena.

Baroness Northover: The ocean shipping service procurement process is being run by the St Helena Government. They will make an announcement as soon as this process has been concluded.

St Helena

Lord Jones of Cheltenham: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what progress has been made on increasing and improving facilities on St Helena for the anticipated increase in tourists once the new airport is completed.

Baroness Northover: Enterprise St Helena (ESH), St Helena’s Economic Development Agency, continues to develop the island’s tourism industry and its accommodation. ESH also continues to support local businesses to ensure that St Helena’s tourist attractions are developed and accredited to international standards.

Ministry of Justice

Cycling: Greater London

Lord Rogan: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many cyclists have been (1) cautioned, and (2) convicted, for road traffic offences in the last 12 months in the Cities of London and Westminster.

Lord Faulks: The Department recognises that everyone who uses the highway has a responsibility to behave safely and with consideration for others.The enforcement of cycling offences is an operational matter for individual chief officers of police. Officers can issue verbal warnings, fixed penalty notices or report the road user for formal prosecution.Court proceedings and cautions data for 2014 (which includes data on offenders cautioned and found guilty at all courts of offences related to pedal cycles) are planned for publication in May 2015. The same data for 2015 are planned for publication in spring 2016.

The Lord Chairman of Committees

House of Lords: Catering

Lord Storey: To ask the Chairman of Committees whether the gratuities paid for food and drink by Members of the House of Lords on debit and credit card are directly paid to the service staff; and if so, how.

Lord Sewel: All Catering and Retail Services staff, with the exception of staff grade A and above, receive a share of gratuities and function service charges, including those paid on debit and credit cards. The formula for working out the share for each permanent member of staff is based on contracted hours. Gratuities are distributed three times a year through payroll after deductions for National Insurance and income tax. A proportion of gratuities and function service charges is paid to zero hour staff (none of whom has a contractual exclusivity clause) split on a pro-rata basis according to the number of hours they have worked.

House of Lords: Postal Services

Lord Greaves: To ask the Chairman of Committees what is the expected length of time between external mail arriving at the Parliamentary Estate and its delivery to Lords’ offices; and what is the average time taken.

Lord Sewel: There are frequent deliveries of mail from the mail screening centre to the Estate. Mail received from the centre before 6.40am is delivered to Members’ offices between 9am and 10am. Mail received between 6.40am and 10am is delivered between 12noon and 1pm. Any mail received later is delivered the following working day.Delivery of courier items received at the Parcel Office between 8am and 3pm is attempted within two hours. Items received after 3pm are delivered by 10am the following working day.Royal Mail items requiring signature received before 1.30pm are delivered in a round beginning at 2pm; if items are delayed another round is carried out at 4pm.

Ministry of Defence

Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft

Lord West of Spithead: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what proportion of each Sea Lightning will be built in the United Kingdom by BAE Systems and other British contractors.

Lord Astor of Hever: The F-35 Programme is not developing a Sea Lightning. It is only developing the F-35 A, B and C, which is designated Lightning II by the UK. British contractors produce approximately 15% by value of each Lightning II aircraft.

Military Aircraft: Air Traffic Control

Lord Moonie: To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they expect to place a contract to implement Project Marshall.

Lord Astor of Hever: The contract to implement Project Marshall was placed on 28 October 2014.

USA

Lord Moonie: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have published, or intend to publish, the Statement of Intent regarding Enhanced Co-operation on Carrier Operations and Maritime Power Projection which was signed by the Secretary of State for Defence and the United States Secretary of Defense in January 2012.

Lord Astor of Hever: The document referred to was placed in the Library of the House on 2 February 2012 in response to an answer given in the House of Commons by the then Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology (Peter Luff) on 1 February 2012 (Official Report, column 649W) to the hon. Member for Moray (Angus Robertson).

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Lake District National Park

Lord Greaves: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had or plan to have with the Lake District National Park Authority about its programme of land sales and in particular its decision to advertise for sale land at Stickle Tarn (Great Langdale), Yewbarrow Woods (Longsleddale), Blue Hill and Red Bank Wood, Blea Brows (Coniston Water), Lady Wood (White Moss), Banerigg Wood (White Moss), and the amenity land with river frontage at Portinscale.

Lord De Mauley: Defra officials have discussed these issues with the Lake District National Park Authority to understand the situation better.

Solar Power

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the answer by Lord De Mauley on 25 February (HL Deb, cols 1648–9) concerning solar panels, whether they plan to extend the policy of not subsidising farmers twice for solar panels to wind farms.

Lord De Mauley: Wind turbines and their hard standings are already ineligible under the basic payments scheme. Wind farms do not significantly hamper agricultural activity as they require widely spaced turbines and the blades are sited well above field level. Accordingly, the Government has no plans to make wind farms ineligible for payment.

Department for Communities and Local Government

Veterans: Homelessness

Lord Touhig: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the answer by Lord Wallace of Saltaire on 2 March (HL Deb, col 6), what is their assessment of the number of (1) veterans casually sleeping rough, and (2) homeless veterans, in (a) London, and (b) elsewhere in the United Kingdom.

Lord Touhig: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the answer by Lord Wallace of Saltaire on 2 March (HL Deb, col 6), what programmes they have to help veterans sleeping rough in (1) London, and (2) the rest of the United Kingdom; what programmes are in place to move homeless veterans to permanent housing; and what programmes are in place to prevent veterans from becoming homeless.

Lord Touhig: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the answer by Lord Wallace of Saltaire on 2 March (HL Deb, col 6), why Lord Wallace did not answer the question asked relating to veterans sleeping rough.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: DCLG’s Rough Sleeping Statistics England – Autumn 2014 statistical release provides a single night snapshot and does not provide information on the demographics of rough sleepers. However, the Greater London Authority’s CHAIN (Combined Homeless and Information Network) database in London shows that, in 2013/14, 3% (145) of people seen rough sleeping who are from the UK had served in the armed forces. The Government has increased spending to prevent and tackle rough sleeping and homelessness making over £500 million available, giving councils the funding and tools needed to take action against rough sleeping locally. There is a range of initiatives and projects in place to help rough sleepers, prevent single homelessness and to help those who have been homeless find and sustain accommodation. The initiatives help a wide range of single homeless people including military veterans. StreetLink has helped thousands of vulnerable people who have slept rough or faced the prospect of doing so. By using Streetlink the public can help connect rough sleepers to the local services available so they can get the help they need to get them off the streets. Since 2012, StreetLink has made nearly 24,500 rough sleeping referrals to councils to investigate, leading to 10,500 rough sleepers being found and connected with local services of which nearly 2,000 resulted in them finding accommodation. We have also supported the roll-out of No Second Night Out nationally through the £20 million Homelessness Transition Fund for the voluntary sector, ensuring rough sleepers are found quickly and that they do not spend more than one night on the street. We have launched an £8 million Help for Single Homeless Fund for local authorities which will improve council services for single people facing the prospect of homelessness. Thirty-four projects, working across 168 local authorities, will provide support for up 22,000 single homeless people. The Government is helping single homeless people find and sustain accommodation in the private rented sector through our £14 million funding to Crisis. By 2016 we expect the Crisis scheme to have helped 10,000 single homeless people since it started in 2010. We have also introduced protection to ensure that former and current Service personnel are not disadvantaged in accessing social housing because of the disadvantages of military life. We have changed the law by regulation so that seriously injured personnel and former members of the Armed Forces with urgent housing needs must always be given high priority for social housing by local authorities. We have also made sure that serving personnel and those who have recently been discharged do not lose their qualification rights because of the requirement to move from base to base. Additionally, we have issued statutory guidance strongly encouraging local authorities to give sympathetic consideration to prioritising the needs of all former Service personnel, for example through the use of local preference criteria and local lettings policies. The devolved administrations publish their own statistics on homelessness and rough sleeping.

HM Treasury

Bank Services: Switzerland

Lord Myners: To ask Her Majesty’s Government which were the 10 jurisdictions into which closed bank accounts held in Switzerland by United Kingdom residents were transferred according to information provided to them by the Swiss National Bank.

Lord Myners: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what actions they plan to take in connection with bankers who colluded in tax evasion or oversaw those perpetrating collusion.

Lord Deighton: HL4893   Under the Swiss Agreement HMRC received a list of the top 10 destinations to where funds were moved in the period before the Agreement came into force. They are using this information together with information from compliance work to follow the proceeds of tax evasion.   As with Lichtenstein agreement signed in 2009, HMRC is legally restricted by the Agreement’s terms from publishing the information provided.   HL4896   Where there is evidence of collusion in tax evasion or other wrongdoing, the relevant law enforcement agency would assess that evidence and decide whether to pursue an investigation. HMRC received the data from the French in April 2010 under very strict international treaty conditions, which limited its use to tax purposes only and prevented HMRC from sharing the data with other law enforcement authorities for investigating other potential offences. HMRC first asked for the conditions to be relaxed in August 2010. Following a number of more recent representations, the French authorities gave written confirmation on 23 February 2015 that they were lifting restrictions on the use and sharing of the data with other law enforcement agencies and regulators for the purpose of investigating criminal offences. As a result, HMRC has recently held a multi-agency meeting to discuss how the stolen HSBC Suisse data can be shared with them.

HSBC

Lord Myners: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what regulatory actions were taken in the United Kingdom in connection with HSBC as a consequence of the fines imposed in the United States in response to its involvement in money laundering on behalf of Mexican drug cartels.

Lord Deighton: I can confirm to the Noble Lord that the information I provided him in response to his written question answered on 17th June 2013 remains accurate:   US investigations and enforcement action on HSBC focused on their subsidiaries in the US. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has no direct supervisory remit over these HSBC entities.   However, in conjunction with the action taken by the US, the (then) FSA, as lead regulator for the HSBC Group globally, made a number of requirements of HSBC Holdings plc, designed to ensure that all parts of the HSBC Group are compliant with the relevant legal and regulatory requirements across the Group to prevent similar failings occurring in future.   This included requiring a committee of the HSBC Board to oversee matters relating to anti-money laundering, sanctions, terrorist financing and proliferation financing; requiring the Group to revise its policies and procedures to ensure that all parts of the HSBC Group are subject to standards equivalent to those required under UK requirements; HSBC employing an independent monitor to oversee the Group's compliance with UK anti-money laundering, sanctions, terrorist financing and proliferation financing requirements and to provide independent reporting to the HSBC Board committee and regulators. HSBC Holdings was also required to appoint a Group Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO), with responsibility for ensuring that systems and controls are in place across the Group.   The FCA is closely monitoring the implementation of these requirements by HSBC.

HSBC

Lord Myners: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether Lord Green of Hurstpierpoint was made aware of the information forwarded to them by the government of France on alleged tax evasion made possible by HSBC.

Lord Deighton: Due to the longstanding legal requirements for taxpayer confidentiality, Ministers are not made aware of invidual tax cases. At no point were Ministers made aware of any suggestion of wrong doing by HSBC itself.

Banks: Tax Havens

Lord Myners: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to ban United Kingdom banks from operating branches or subsidiaries in offshore tax havens; and whether United Kingdom regulators have any regulatory responsibility for those banks, their management or those in the United Kingdom who supervise such activities.

Lord Deighton: The Government does not impose restrictions on where UK banks can operate overseas. However, the UK has championed international tax transparency and through our G8 Presidency has driven the agreement and early implementation of the new global standard for automatic exchange of financial information for tax purposes. To date over 90 countries have committed to exchange such information on a multilateral basis. The UK also remains committed to ensuring that there are effective anti-avoidance rules in place to protect the UK corporation tax base.   This includes the introduction of new Controlled Foreign Company rules (effective from the beginning of 2013) which help to deter and prevent artificial diversion of profits from the UK.   It also includes supporting the G20-OECD Base Erosion and Profit Shifting project which is looking to address weaknesses in international tax rules which allow companies to avoid paying tax on their profits.   The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) are the UK financial services regulators. The role of the FCA and PRA in regulating overseas branches and subsidiaries of UK banks is dependent on the specific circumstances of an individual case.   However, I have asked the FCA and the PRA to reply directly to the Noble Lord by letter to explain their role in this area. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

HSBC

Lord Myners: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will publish or place in the Library of the House the agreement under which HM Revenue and Customs received from its French equivalent details of accounts allegedly held at HSBC Suisse; whether the terms of that agreement were negotiated by HM Revenue and Customs and advised to ministers; whether HM Revenue and Customs took legal advice and sought the views of ministers on the agreement before its signing; and under which legal jurisdiction the agreement is enforceable.

Lord Myners: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the terms of the agreement between HM Revenue and Customs and its French equivalent relating to HSBC Suisse was shown to the Board of HM Revenue and Customs or discussed at a HM Revenue and Customs Board meeting.

Lord Myners: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether copies of HM Revenue and Customs Board papers and minutes of Board meetings are provided to HM Treasury and the Board of HM Treasury or its Council of Economic Advisers.

Lord Deighton: Information provided to HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) by the French tax authorities in respect of individuals indicated to hold accounts at the Geneva branch of HSBC Suisse and understood to be UK residents was supplied to HMRC under the terms of both the Mutual Assistance Directive 77/799/EEC[1] and the Double Taxation Convention in force between France and the United Kingdom at that time[2].   The Mutual Assistance Directive had been in force since 23 December 1977. The Double Taxation Convention has been in force since 18 December 2009, replacing an earlier convention which had been in force since 1969.   Since their entry into force each of these agreements has been a matter of public record.   There was, therefore, no new agreement for the Board of HMRC to negotiate or consider in connection with the provision of the information by the French tax authorities.   HMRC does not share copies of Board papers and minutes with HM Treasury. However, senior HM Treasury officials are standing invitees to HMRC's monthly Executive Committee meeting, which is the Department's main executive forum and the primary place where decisions are taken with regards to setting and delivering strategy and improving performance in key areas, and as such they have routine access to relevant committee meeting papers and minutes.   Each HMRC Executive Committee member also takes responsibility for the management of activities within a specific portfolio, including enforcement and compliance and business or personal tax customer services; HM Treasury officials do not have access to this level of information which ‎contains operational compliance and taxpayer confidential information.[1] http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:31977L0799[2] http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/taxtreaties/in-force/france.pdf

Taxation: Domicil

Lord Myners: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will review present restrictions on non-domiciled persons remitting capital to the United Kingdom; and whether they will exempt or apply a lower rate to money remitted for United Kingdom investment or charitable donation.

Lord Deighton: There are no restrictions on non-domiciled individuals from remitting capital to the UK. Where the individual is taxed on the remittance basis, such payments may be subject to UK tax, where they are foreign income or gains.   The Chancellor of the Exchequer keeps all taxes under review.

Inheritance Tax

Lord Campbell-Savours: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what estimate they have made of the cost of raising the inheritance tax threshold to £1 million.

Lord Campbell-Savours: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what estimate they have made of the cost of raising the inheritance tax threshold to £500,000.

Lord Campbell-Savours: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what estimate they have made of the benefits to the Exchequer of ending the right to transfer from a deceased spouse to a remaining spouse the unused inheritance tax nil rate threshold band.

Lord Deighton: HM Revenue and Customs publishes various illustrative tax changes on tax revenues in 2014 to 2015, 2015 to 2016 and 2016 to 2017, and estimates of the cost of tax reliefs for 2012 to 2013 and 2013 to 2014. This information has been deposited in the Library of the House.

LIBOR

Lord Robertson of Port Ellen: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many announcements of donations to charities from the funds received in penalties for the manipulation of Libor have been made by ministers.

Lord Deighton: Since June 2012, HM Treasury has received LIBOR fines from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), which the Chancellor has chosen to use to help and support those who demonstrate the very best values in our society. There have been announcements around LIBOR fines made at each Autumn Statement and Budget since 2012.

Cabinet Office

Food Poverty

Baroness Thomas of Winchester: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to prevent people from having to use food banks.

Lord Wallace of Saltaire: Under this Government, year on year food prices have fallen, with an annual rate of inflation for food and non-alcoholic drinks of minus 2.5 per cent in the year to January 2015 - the lowest rate since the official CPI series began in 1997.  Our welfare system offers a vital safety net, providing around £94bn in 2014/15 on working age benefits to support people who are, for instance, on low incomes or out of work. We are also taking action to help hardworking families with their food costs, for example through free school meals and the Healthy Start and School Fruit and Vegetable Schemes.

Department for Culture Media and Sport

Castes: Discrimination

Lord Avebury: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to seek advice from the Propriety and Ethics team in the Cabinet Office about launching the consultation on adding caste to the list of protected characteristics in the Equality Act 2010 in a 12-week period that overlaps the general election.

Baroness Garden of Frognal: General election guidance for Government Departments published by the Cabinet Office includes advice on carrying out public consultations. That guidance primarily covers situations where an election is called once a public consultation is already under way, rather than any consideration that would be necessary about whether to launch a consultation when an election is known to be imminent. In the case of caste, that consultation has been delayed because of legal developments in a caste-related case – Chandhok v Tirkey. The Employment Appeal Tribunal issued a judgment in December 2014 opening the possibility that claims of caste-associated discrimination may already have a legal remedy under existing legislation, namely the “ethnic origins” element of Section 9 of the Equality Act 2010.  We are now carefully considering the judgment’s implications for discrimination law in respect of caste in order to ensure the appropriate level of protection against caste-associated discrimination exists.

Broadband: Rural Areas

Lord Jones of Cheltenham: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to roll out superfast broadband to rural areas of the United Kingdom.

Lord Gardiner of Kimble: On 9 February 2015 the Government announced that 2 million premises have been passed by its Superfast Broadband Programme, meaning that superfast broadband is now available to almost 80% of UK premises, up from 45% in 2010. The Government funding is supporting further investment by the private sector to ensure that the benefits of better broadband are extended as widely as possible.  Through over 50 local projects the Government, Local Authorities and Devolved Administrations are investing over £1.7 billion in improving broadband. The Superfast Broadband Programme is being delivered in three phases:· Phase 1 (formerly known as the Rural Broadband Programme) aims to provide superfast broadband coverage to 90% of UK homes and businesses by early 2016 and provide access to standard broadband (2Mbps) for all· Phase 2 aims to provide superfast broadband coverage to 95% of the UK by 2017 · Phase 3 is testing options to roll-out superfast broadband beyond 95%

Broadband: Rural Areas

Lord Jones of Cheltenham: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they plan to fast-track those rural areas which have not received funding for superfast broadband.

Lord Gardiner of Kimble: Superfast Broadband will be available to 95% of UK homes and businesses by 2017. The Government is undertaking a number of market testing pilot projects to explore options for extending coverage beyond the 95% level.

Broadband: Rural Areas

Lord Jones of Cheltenham: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the lack of superfast broadband on businesses, farming communities, households and the elderly, particularly in rural areas.

Lord Gardiner of Kimble: The benefits of superfast broadband are summarised in the UK Broadband Impact Study (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-broadband-impact-study--2). This looked at a wide range of benefits, including considerations around different business sectors, and rurality. Given the benefits identified the Government aims to provide 95 per cent superfast broadband coverage by 2017, and is exploring options for taking coverage beyond that level.

Broadband: Rural Areas

Lord Jones of Cheltenham: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will use Compton Bassett in Wiltshire as a pilot test case for installing superfast broadband in rural areas due to its special and unusual challenges.

Lord Gardiner of Kimble: The Government remains committed to taking superfast broadband coverage further than the 95% level to be achieved by current programmes, but there are no current plans to undertake a pilot exercise in Compton Bassett.

Castes: Discrimination

Lord Avebury: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Northover on 4 August 2014 (HL1061), when they received the report of the feasibility study commissioned by the Government Equalities Office; and why the report has not yet been published.

Baroness Garden of Frognal: We received a final copy of the report in January 2015, and its findings are currently under consideration. We will publish it as soon as we are in a position to do so.

Public Service Broadcasting

Lord Black of Brentwood: To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they expect to publish a consultation concerning broadcast retransmission fees in relation to public sector broadcasters.

Lord Gardiner of Kimble: The Department intends to consult in the near future although no date has been formally set as yet.

Department of Health

Passive Smoking

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their estimate of the number of people who died as a result of passive smoking in each of the last five years.

Earl Howe: An error has been identified in the written answer given on 17 February 2015.The correct answer should have been:

Exposure to secondhand smoke is a serious health hazard. More than 50 carcinogens have been identified in secondhand smoke.   The report of the United States Surgeon General titled “The health consequences of involuntary exposure to tobacco smoke” concluded that secondhand smoke causes premature death and disease in children and adults who do not smoke. The scientific evidence indicates that there is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke. Children exposed to secondhand smoke are at an increased risk for sudden infant death syndrome, acute respiratory infections, ear problems and more severe asthma. Smoking by parents causes respiratory symptoms and slows lung growth in children. Exposure of adults to secondhand smoke has immediate adverse effects on the cardiovascular system and causes coronary heart disease and lung cancer. Legislation to stop smoking in vehicles carrying children will come into force in England on 1 October 2015.  The report of the Royal College of Physicians Surgeons titled “Going smoke-free: The medical case for clean air in the home, at work and in public places” included estimates that secondhand smoke exposure caused approximately 122,200 deaths in the United Kingdom in 2003, and that the majority of these deaths occurred as a result of exposure to secondhand smoke in the home. These estimates were made prior to the introduction of smokefree legislation in England in 2007. Over the past decade, the proportion of smokers who say that they do not smoke in the home has increased.   The evidence is clear that smokefree legislation in England has had beneficial effects on health, as set out in the report “The Impact of smokefree legislation in England: evidence review” which was published alongside the Government’s “Tobacco Control Plan for England” in March 2011.   The reports referred to have been placed in the Library.

Earl Howe: Exposure to secondhand smoke is a serious health hazard. More than 50 carcinogens have been identified in secondhand smoke.   The report of the United States Surgeon General titled “The health consequences of involuntary exposure to tobacco smoke” concluded that secondhand smoke causes premature death and disease in children and adults who do not smoke. The scientific evidence indicates that there is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke. Children exposed to secondhand smoke are at an increased risk for sudden infant death syndrome, acute respiratory infections, ear problems and more severe asthma. Smoking by parents causes respiratory symptoms and slows lung growth in children. Exposure of adults to secondhand smoke has immediate adverse effects on the cardiovascular system and causes coronary heart disease and lung cancer. Legislation to stop smoking in vehicles carrying children will come into force in England on 1 October 2015.  The report of the Royal College of Physicians Surgeons titled “Going smoke-free: The medical case for clean air in the home, at work and in public places” included estimates that secondhand smoke exposure caused approximately 122,200 deaths in the United Kingdom in 2003, and that the majority of these deaths occurred as a result of exposure to secondhand smoke in the home. These estimates were made prior to the introduction of smokefree legislation in England in 2007. Over the past decade, the proportion of smokers who say that they do not smoke in the home has increased.   The evidence is clear that smokefree legislation in England has had beneficial effects on health, as set out in the report “The Impact of smokefree legislation in England: evidence review” which was published alongside the Government’s “Tobacco Control Plan for England” in March 2011.   The reports referred to have been placed in the Library.

Off-licences

Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their estimate of the volume of alcohol sold by off-licensed premises other than supermarkets in England and Wales in 2009, 2012, 2013 and 2014.

Earl Howe: The Government does not collect data on alcohol sales from retailers. Published data is available annually from the British Beer and Pub Association Statistical Handbook.   The following table contains the estimated percentage of the volume of alcohol sold in the off-licensed trade by off-licensed premises excluding supermarkets in England and Wales in 2009, 2012 and 2013.   Data for 2014 has not been published.   Sales Volume of Alcoholic Drinks – Impulse 1 - Proportion of off-trade sales volume (%) sold by off-licensed premises other than supermarkets YearBeer200932.3201226.0201325.4 YearSpirits200925.7201218.7201318.2   YearCider200938.7201233.5201332.1 YearWine200925.8201216.0201316.4 Source: British Beer & Pub Association, Statistical Handbook 2010, 2013 and 2014   Note: 1. Impulse - consists of convenience stores, specialist off licenses and independent retailers.

Off-licences

Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many off-licensed premises other than supermarkets in England are signed up as partners to the Public Health Responsibility Deal; and how many pledges they have made.

Earl Howe: We do not ask Responsibility Deal partners about their license status, therefore we do not know how many off-licensed premises other than supermarkets in England are signed up as partners to the Responsibility Deal nor do we know how many pledges off-licensed premises, other than supermarkets, have made.   A full list of partners is available on the Responsibility Deal website at:   https://responsibilitydeal.dh.gov.uk/

Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust

Baroness Finlay of Llandaff: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 2 February (HL4599), given the recent closure of Nottingham University Trust's acute dermatology service, what steps they are taking to relieve increasing service pressure on dermatology in the long term.

Earl Howe: The commissioning and provision of National Health Services is a matter for the local NHS.   The NHS Trust Development Authority advises that since Monday 2 February Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust has been unable to provide a comprehensive adult dermatology service. It no longer has sufficient consultant dermatologist capacity to sustain such a service.   The Trust has worked with commissioners to ensure a satisfactory service is available to local people from alternative providers.   Rushcliffe Clinical Commissioning Group has commissioned a review to assess how to meet the needs of the population in the future. It would not be appropriate for Ministers or the Department to intervene in this matter.

In Vitro Fertilisation

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 24 February 2015 (HL4890 and HL4891), whether Professor Grifo was himself directly involved in performing the experiment described by the abstract in Fertility and Sterility in 2003 (Volume 30, supplement 3, p56); if so, what was indicated in the letter sent to a member of the Expert Panel convened by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) regarding the personal responsibility that Professor Grifo held for the conduct of that experiment; or, if not, why the HFEA’s Expert Panel did not correspond with those at Sun Yat-Sen University of Medical Science who had actually performed the experiment on the woman in China.

Earl Howe: We have nothing further to add to the answers given previously on the subject of the published abstract of the Zhang research group.

Tobacco

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 25 February (HL 4956) concerning meetings with smoking organisations, whether they will now arrange to meet the Freedom Organisation for the Right to Enjoy Smoking Tobacco; and when they last met representatives of the tobacco industry.

Earl Howe: Requests for meetings are considered by the Department when they are received.   Officials met with representatives of the Digital Coding and Tracking Association, whose members include British American Tobacco, Philip Morris International, Imperial Tobacco and Japan Tobacco International, on 18 November 2014 to discuss the track and trace and security features of the revised Tobacco Products Directive.

Macular Degeneration: Drugs

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to make the drug Avastin available to treat people with wet age-related macular degeneration.

Earl Howe: Avastin is not licensed for treating wet age related macular degeneration. Whilst only the manufacturer is able to apply for a new licence, doctors are free to prescribe unlicensed medicines and licensed products off label if they feel they are clinically appropriate for their patients. There are two products – Lucentis and Eylea – which are licensed and have both been recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence for this purpose. It is ultimately the responsibility of the prescriber to recommend the drug that best suits the individual clinical needs of his or her patient following Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency and General Medical Council guidance.